In an inspiring incident, a baby needing immediate heart valve surgery raced against time to reach Kochi from Mangaluru via road.

The roadtrip was necessitated after doctors refused to give permission for the child to be airlifted citing pressure variations which could be harmful to the baby.

The baby reached the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences in Kochi around 430 pm on Tuesday after leaving the Mangaluru hospital around 11 am.

As information about the child’s condition spread, many good samaritans hit the street to help clear the way for the ambulance. An NGO ‘Child Protect Team’ is coordinating the transfer of the child. The ambulance is expected to cover the 600 kilometre distance in about 10 hours, a distance that is usually covered in about 16 hours.

The ambulance’s journey was webcast live on Facebook so that awareness about the ambulance could be spread and people could make way for it.

Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan tweeted, “Every second is precious. I appeal to everyone to help baby reach destination on time.”

State Health Minister KK Shailaja said the government would provide all help to the baby. The baby of Sania and Mitha, a couple from Kasargode, was undergoing treatment at a private hospital for a week. The transfer was necessitated after the baby’s condition deteriorated on Monday night.